Page 138 of Angelic Vengeance

One of the doors was wide open, allowing me to see inside a small room. As I stepped inside, my pulse hitched with adrenaline. Handcuffs chained to the walls, a blood-stained sink, a metal chair in the center along with a mirror right in front of it. Knives, chainsaws, drills, rope, duct tape.

I was confused. Zane didn’t care for torture; he delivered one-shot kills. He believed in karma and the way of the universe; not playing with his prey.

Anxiety and dread spread through my chest. This wasn’t one of Zane’s safehouses.

It was…

“You were supposed to wait upstairs.”

My heart stopped.

Blood iced in my veins. Then my pulse skyrocketed as fire spread through my body.

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I understood Zane had helped him corner me.

I hesitated for a moment before turning around.

Dark hair. Black suit. Tattoos.

The view hit me right in the chest like a punch. Every emotion I thought I’d cried out of my system in the last week rushed back to the surface. I forced my face to remain stone-cold; pushed my feelings down; controlled my chest to move with even breaths.

Zach didn’t look like himself. His hair was messier than usual and I’d never seen him in a creased suit before. His eyes searched mine, but it was no use; I was looking through him.

I moved to push past him, and of course, he stepped in front of me.

“Get out of my way.”

“Just let me–”

“No.”

“I lo–”

“Don’t youdaresay it.” My vision blurred when I looked back up. Blinking the emotion away, I caught his jaw clicking with tension.

The pain in his eyes matched mine.

A moment of silence.

“I love you.” His voice came out strained and raspy. As if it was said with everything in him.

My eyes burned again, and I had to look away to regain myself.

I felt my chest contract. I’d heard him that night. He thought I was asleep, but I heard him whisper it into the dark after kissing the top of my head. I foolishly believed him. And the following night, I stupidly said it back once he fell asleep.

“It doesn’t matter,” I gulped. “Love can’t fix this.”

“You love me too. I heard you that night.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as if I was in physical pain. Weirdly, the one in my chest hurt worse than being stabbed.

He… He heard me too?

I shook my head. “None of it was real. You said so yourself.”

“I was just talking shit. I didn’t mean it.” He paused, regaining his calm and trying again. “Maria,please. I can’tlose you. Ican’t.” His voice bled out with so much regret, I almost believed him.

It was getting too much. All over again. My head was thumping. My body was shaking. Everything inside me boiled to its limit, finally exploding.